That fucking thing is not going to happen and anyone who believes it will is either in denial or a good candidate to purchase that bridge over the Atlantic I have for sale.

Interesting, but also reminds me of a water tower. :roofvsspire:

I wish something was proposed at the base of the tower; if constructed at the corner of the Convention Center, it will be just one more building on that block with hidden retail- in the same vein as the food options INSIDE the Convention Center, we will be getting retail inside/at the top of the pin.

Great concept and something Phoenix needs more of: symbolic architecture, tourist attractions, variety within the skyline, etc. But, that area is such a huge dead zone... I want to see something that will enliven the streetscape, though if the Colliers hotel finally gets built, that should help.

Lastly, I'm way more into the Taylor street project. I wonder if there >0% chance of it ever getting built?

More info on "The Pin" from the Republic. Apparently, Novawest works with management at the Space Needle and has created projects in Washington. If this thing is ever built here are some highlights:
Construction will begin August 2013 at a cost of $60 million with planned completion in 2015; in time for the Super Bowl that metro Phoenix will be hosting. It will be built on the Arizona Science Center interior courtyard...not Heritage Square Park.

Novawest LLC, a boutique real-estate developer in Phoenix, wants to break ground on a 420-foot tall observation tower downtown in August 2013. The developers want to see the $60 million project in the interior courtyard of the Arizona Science Center, near Washington and Seventh streets.

But the project has a long way to go. The developer has not secured financing, and they have not yet submitted plans to the city. There’s also some debate about where exactly the project would be — Arizona Science Center location isn’t secured.

But Novawest leaders are optimistic, saying Phoenix’s management team has been encouraging and supportive.

“It is a unique concept, and we have asked them for project details to support the feasibility of the project,” said Sina Matthes, spokeswoman for the city of Phoenix.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/p...r-phoenix.html

How will the pin make money? Who is going to pay for it? And why? I'm skeptical of the whole proposal.

According to the article, it will be a part of the Science Center and a ticket will have to be purchased to take the elevator to the top (like all landmarks of this nature). There will also be vendors and a restaurant incorporated into various parts of the structure. It will be available to rent for events/parties/meetings/etc.

It will be built on city land (Phoenix owns the Science Center) so property will have to be leased from the city. The funds to built it will be raised via private donations. Honestly, if this thing is built I will be surprised. Raising that kind of money for a project of this nature in downtown Phoenix is highly unlikely. Maybe we will be surprised and local corporations step up to the plate... :rolleyes:

why are we even discussing this bullshit?

Because we feel like it and it's new...no harm. But I'm sure it will be coming up until it is officially dead.

I personally like the tower. The tower should be taller - like 500' so that it can be labeled as the 'tallest freestanding structure in Arizona." :)

Whoa, I realized I haven't posted in a few years. Hi everybody!

Andrew

It would need quite a bit more height to claim that...apparently there is a 2600' solar tower being planned/built in La Paz County.

http://www.azoutback.com/SolarTower.htm

Yeah, BIG is one of the most important architectural firms in the world right now. That alone adds validity to this project.

hooverdam mentioned this but no one else seems to have noticed/cared
but that top deck and those edge railings would be pretty unbearable for a good chunk of the year.

http://www.nitnelav.com/ThePin/5.jpg

Agreed it should be taller, 500' would be good.

And welcome back! I was just thinking about you like a week ago actually, please stick around more, you were always a thoughtful, pleasant, insightful poster :)

Maybe they could put a pool on top to make it better... Lol. ;)
I think that chunk of the year is considered unbearable by many any where you are in the valley. (besides shopping in an indoor mall... bleh...)
The thing this project would do for downtown is give it another signature attraction, which it needs. I don't think it would draw people from all over the world, but certainly from all over the valley, and for tourists who visit the suburbs of Phoenix, this would be a great reason to make a trip downtown.
If you look at travel websites, they tell people to check out camelback mountain, Tempe town lake, 5th ave in Scottsdale, mill ave, heard museum, south mountain.... Nothing in downtown. This would definitely make the lists.

It would, but what does a ball on a stick have to do with PHX?

The Eiffel Tower was a welcoming gate into the Worlds Fair.
The Space Needle represents the space age, and was built for a worlds fair.
St Louis Gateway arch is quite literally a gateway to the West.
Statue of Liberty represents just that, liberty.
The Arc de Triomphe is a monument to the French Revolution.


What does the pin represent about Phoenix and Arizona? We have lots of golf?

Monuments are monuments because they're monuments to something, or remembering something.

I think I'd be more into this pin idea if it were say copper, and was built this year as the Arizona Centennial Memorial or some such thing. As is, it just seems like a monument to commercialism, or a desperate grab at tourist dollars.

Like Vicelord said, it likely won't happen...but its an interesting discussion to have.

I guess I just wish it meant something.

E: Also, related since we're talking about Heritage Square....can someone remind me whats going on inside the former PHX History Museum? Did the Science Center end up expanding into there? Or is it just empty?

I think I'd be more on board with this project if part of it were to bring back/improve the PHX Museum of History.

I'd be even more on board if that parking garage at Heritage Sq was razed and replaced with more historic homes/structures that are perhaps endangered, if the only way to save them is to move them (I.E. the White Gates residence).

At that point, you're talking about a more holistic project, that seems relevant to the Cities history and such.

Although they are important landmarks now, many of the structures you list had great opposition (similar to some of this discussion). The Eiffel Tower only survived because it was the perfect location for Paris' radio towers. But right after it was built, a large percentage of the city wanted it to be torn down. Which is often the case with World's Fair structures. There are great examples of the ones that remain, but most structures that were built for these events (even some really iconic ones) come down soon after the event is done.

The Gateway Arch also had a ton of people against it. They saw it as hideous modernism, and wanted to block it from being built.

Now, these structures have become icons, but it took a lot for that to happen. I mean, there is nothing that says Paris about the Eiffel tower, now it does because it has become a symbol, but it really doesn't have much to do with its surroundings.

The Pin would not be the best building in Phoenix, but it would create a much more interesting skyline, and in the absence of any other serious proposals for our city, I welcome it. BIG is a big name architect, and having a building done by him would attract a some tourism. And who knows, eventually it could become a world known iconic landmark. We need to go beyond the typical. Phoenix is what it is because developers don't want to make bold statements and take any risks. So even though I do think that BIG could design something a lot more interesting, and that a pin is not the best icon, I think we should support people trying to do something outside the box to improve our downtown core.

^ I guess Im not making myself entirely clear. Yes I know people were against those projects or they thought they were too radical. Yes it does take time for something to become an icon, of course.

But they were monuments to something. They had a reason, a story. Whats the story here? Someone wants to make a buck. Thats kinda...uninspiring, ya know? Which is why I was saying I would've thought it a lot cooler if it was a monument to AZs Centennial or some such thing.

Again though, if bringing back the Phoenix Museum of History was part of this project, then Im way more on board. Doubly so if the parking garage is knocked down and Heritage Square is expanded. While we're at it, drop this silly and confusing "Heritage Square/Heritage and Science Park" name...just call it "Heritage Square", its clean, simple and nice.

Put a HAWK in at Monroe to connect to the Childrens Museum and make it more or less part of Heritage Square too.

Then offer a $60 (or whatever) that gets you into the Rosson House, the AZ Toy & Doll Museum, the AZ Science Center, the Childrens Museum, the Phoenix History Museum and the Pin within a 24 hour period, and you've got something.

At the very least it gives you something to do while you wait for a table at Pizzeria Bianco.

Options for a Monroe crossing are being evaluated:

http://downtowndevil.com/2012/10/29/...ycle-crossing/

A bridge seems excessive, especially compared to a combination of a HAWK and a 7th Street road diet, but it looks like the most likely option.

I agree with what you are saying about a lack of meaning. But lets not kid ourselves, Phoenix is not a city that would host a worlds fair. We dont have a strong cultural or historical precense either. What we strive for is hosting super bowls and all-star games. We even tear down the few public spaces we have to build things like city scape. I agree that we need more meaning in our developments, but phoenix is plagued by the worst and most shortsighted developers i have seen. It is all about getting a return on investment 6 months after completion. I think as meaningless as this landmark might be, it might also become something that attracts other investors and developers to our city. Then we might be able to get the awesome projects the 6th largest city in the US deserves.

I think we can stop this insanely pointless discussion about the stupid super Mario tower very quickly when someone pulls up the allowable building height map.

I spoke with a fella at the city about the crosswalk at Monroe and damn near begged for a hawk. I even remember posting about it here. He promised to bring it up at the next committee meeting and never called me back. My ex gf who is bidding for the heritage square brand design project says they are seriously considering a bridge.

Whatever happens happens. I just wish drivers could figure out that flashing red + no pedestrian = 4-way stop. Get out of my way!!!